ᒫᒪᐃᐧ ᒣᐢᑯᒋᐸᔨᐃᐧᐣ / shapeshifting together
February 2 to 18, 2024
ᒫᒪᐃᐧ ᒣᐢᑯᒋᐸᔨᐃᐧᐣ / shapeshifting together is about the interaction between body, identity, and language. What do we do when we don’t have the language to describe our bodies? When colonial terms aren’t able to capture the nuances of our identities? Jasper Pettman expresses these frustrations with bold paint strokes on swaths of raw canvas that invite the viewer into an array of fluid, morphing forms. Among the frustration and struggle; however, is a theme of reclamation and celebration.
ᒫᒪᐃᐧ ᒣᐢᑯᒋᐸᔨᐃᐧᐣ / shapeshifting together recognizes that the relationship between body and spirit is messy and unpredictable, sometimes able to be described in words, but often felt beyond language itself.
Opening night:
Friday, February 2, 2024, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Gallery hours:
Open every weekend from Saturday, February 3 until Sunday, February 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About the Artist
Jasper Pettman is a nêhiyaw/settler, Two-Spirit/trans visual artist from Secwepemcúl’ecw (Interior B.C.) He has been living on the unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən since 2019, and is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Victoria. Jasper’s artistic practice deals with aspects of his nêhiyaw identity and language-learning journey, as well as themes of gender, queerness, and humour.
You can find more information about the artist at the following links:
Watch Jasper’s artist interview with ExhibitVic
Xchanges gratefully acknowledges the support of the Province of British Columbia and the Capital Regional District for our gallery programs.
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